I would have given into the terrorists demands as soon as I had heard them. It would have saved all the lives in the theatre - hostage and hostage taker alike. It would have endangered no more members of the security forces. It would have ended the war in Chechenya - saving the lives of Russian troops, Chechenyan troops and both Russian and Chechen non combatants. Unlike the current ruling Kremlin cadre, I do not wish to remain in power indefinitely or curry favour with the current White House incumbet. And by the way, I believe that ending the Chechenyan war is the right course of action anyway.